Louis L. Terry pension card index. National Archives and Records Administration. Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288, 546 rolls. The image is found here at Ancestry.com. From the NARA website we find the following description “The pension applications to which this index applies relate chiefly to Army, Navy, and Marine Corps service performed between 1861 and 1916. Most of the records relate to Civil War service; some relate to earlier service by Civil War veterans; others relate to service in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Regular Establishment.”

Lewis L Terry (America J Terry, widow) and Louis L Terry.

And a 3rd entry

Louis L. Terry, soldier, and unnamed widow, but when compared to the first example above, note the same date of soldier’s filing June 30, 1887. The application and certificate numbers for the widow are the same as in the first example. SOURCE: National Archives and Records Administration. Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900. This is the card group microfilmed by the Veterans Administration in the 1940s, arranged by state, then unit in which the service was rendered (cavalry, artillery or infantry) and then alpha by veteran’s name, archived by NARA in record group 15, microfilm T289, not T288 as listed in the first two examples. Actual image is found here at Fold3.

Louis L Terry, and an Unnamed widow.

Two Record Groups (T288 and T289). Louis L, Lewis L, unnamed spouse, and America J, a ‘new name’ for Myrt.

During the discussion in 2nd Life, we chatted a bit about how to resolve which Lewis / Louis is which, and who was the spouse. OR were there more than one Lewis/Louis Terry, servicing the the 43rd Missouri. That appeared to be the common piece of information relating to this “mystery”. But it also reinforced the notion that Don’t stop searching when you find ONE record. Look for more documentation.

Here note on this first Blog post was:

As you can see, DearREADERS, I cannot jump to conclusions based on an index card. I’ll need to review each file for other identifying information that may indicate a match to my Lewis L. Terry before making the determination that he did serve in this unit during the Civil War.

Having spent a little time searching for my Great-Grandfather, Samuel Worthington and his venture in the Civil War, I thought that I would use what I learned and apply it to this mystery.

The two pieces of information, as a starting point, was his Name and the 43rd Missouri. The Unit may shed some light about, and it might answer the question, were there two L. L. Terry’s in the 43rd.

I went to Ancestry.com and American Civil War Soldierscollection

This database is a compilation of military records (including state rosters, pension records, and regimental histories) of individual soldiers who served in the United States Civil War.

I entered L Terry and the keyword 43rd Missouri and that he was from Missouri.

The return of hints was 71 people with the surname of Terry. 23 were Confederate and 3 were not from Missouri. Reviewing the remaining names, the following names were in the 43rd Missouri, Company F.

The regiment was mustered in on Sept. 22, 1864, and was on duty in the state during its entire term of service. Six companies were in the battle of Glasgow, Oct. 15, 1864, and in the spring of 1865 the whole regiment was assigned to the District of Central Missouri, where it was actively engaged in the warfare with guerrillas until it was mustered out at Benton barracks, St. Louis, June 30, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 270

Battles FoughtFought on 15 Oct 1864.Fought on 21 Feb 1865.

In the list of soldiers, here is the list of Terry’s.

So, what good is this. There isn’t too much detail linking this information back to Louis, Lewis. Also, this list does not include Lewis L Terry (the L) as the previous records show. But, what might the Census have to say. For me at least, the question about Enlisting as a Private vs a Sergeant may have some meaning here.

The 1850 Census shows a Lewis Terry, aged 32, Born in Ohio, in District 25, Daviess County, Missouri. Wife listed is “Lynthia”, Children Elizabeth, Ruth, Levisia, John, Isabel, a Robert J, and an elder Ansel Terry (52).

Lynthia, may actually be Cynthia. But the son Robert J, may be a clue here.

Looking at ages, from what is in this census, would have Lewis at 47 and Robert at 32. hmmm … not ‘boys’, more experienced, Private vs Sergeant, may be a hint here.

Looking at the Search Screen, on the right side is information that might be helpful to review:

Links that may be other clues;

Looking at the 1860 Census, we have Lewis W, Cynthia, Levenia, John, Isabella, Louisa, Martha, and Terry. Ages and Names appear to be consistent. Robert J. is gone.

To the 1870 Census, Lewis W is now Lewis L, Cynthia is not Sintha, Isabel, Louisa, Martha, Nancy, and Jacob are in the household. Still in Daviess County, Missouri, and Lewis was still born about 1818 in Ohio (that has been consistent).

Let’s push our luck for the 1880 Federal Census; Lewis L Terry is there, still born about 1818 in Ohio. Key to note that he is a Widower, with one daughter, Nannie. Looking at the ages, Nannie might be Nancy.

Going down the list of hint’s the Civil War Pension Index; General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, lead me back to the image that Dear MYRTL had, which showed America J Terry. The clue here, maybe the date of the filing July 21, 1890. This might indicate that Lewis L Terry, re-married between 1880 and 1890, and died in that same time period.

Next on the hint list was the U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, listing. What is interesting about this listing, is that his Rank IN was Private, and the Rank Out was Sergeant.

More conflicting, or inconsistent reporting of information provided from venders to Ancestry.com.

For me, this, once again, is that you must continue to look for different records and put the pieces together until I have a complete picture. But, it also requires that the conflicting information be reviewed. I don’t toss the conflicting information, but remember it to prove or disprove the data we find.

As Dear MYRTLE suggested, she is going to have to pull the files. We are reminded, or at Least I am, that NOT EVERYTHING is Online.

Now to look at what Fold3.com might have to offer this mystery. But that will be another Blog post.

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About this Blog

The purpose of this Blog has changed over time. What started out to be an online version of some old Worthington Descendant Newsletters.
It has become a way to journal about my adventure into Family History, sometimes called Genealogy.
The change for me is more about finding out the stories behind the names and dates that I find about the people I find in my research.